Several high school cross country runners from the Utica-Rome area turned in solid finishes at the NIKE Cross Regional Championships on Saturday at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls.

High school-aged runners are not associated with their respective schools for the event, which included a few hundred runners among a couple races. Most participate under a different team name or unattached.

Westmoreland eighth-grader Emma Szarek, running unattached, had one of the top finishes. Szarek placed seventh overall in 20:56.8 in the New York Open 5K girls race and was 54 seconds behind winner Haylie Smith.

Szarek placed 11th in the Class D race during the state event on Nov. 12.

Two female runners from South Lewis also participated. In the New York Open girls race, junior Grace Bailey placed 22nd in 22:01.8, which was her season best time, according to coach Jack Bernard.

In the New York Championship 5K race, Brynn Bernard placed placed 22nd in 19:56.9. She won the state Class D race early in the month.

In the same race as Bernard, Rome Free Academy senior Marlo Townsend finished in 20:55.1 for 51st. Alexandria French, a New Hartford freshman, was just behind in 21:06.8 for 55th in the race that had more than 100 participants.

Junior Collin Stafford, who attends South Lewis, placed 12th in the boys NY Championship 5K. Stafford finished in 16:34.6, which was a new personal best time on the course, according to coach Jack Bernard.

Three weeks ago, Stafford started training with the cross country team for the Nike Cross Country regional, Jack Bernard noted. Stafford finished 37 seconds behind winner Maximus Haynia (15:57.9).

West Canada girls top Westmo

The West Canada Valley girls basketball team got off to a great start with a dominant 59-31 win over Center State Conference opponent Westmoreland on Saturday.

West Canada led 32-9 at the half.

Sophomore guard Analyce Grabowski scored a team-best 21 points and also had six steals for West Canada. Senior forward Reese Fellows totaled nine points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Junior guard Hanna Burdick added 12 points on four 3-pointers along with four assists and four steals. Senior forward Erin Gorenshenk added seven points and 11 rebounds.

Westmoreland sophomore point guard Madalynne Enos led the team with 20 points. Senior center Gabriella Moore had four points and eight rebounds.

West Canada (1-0) will go for another win with a 7 p.m. matchup on Wednesday at Little Falls. Westmoreland (0-1) will try again for its first win against Herkimer at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

ND girls earn first win

Freshman Ella Trinkaus led Notre Dame with a team-best 19 points while senior guard Alexa Durso totaled four 3-pointers for 12 points in the team’s 66-49 win over CBA on Saturday in the Baldwinsville tournament.

Junior forward Maggie Trinkaus added six points and 11 rebounds for Notre Dame, which led 32-18 at the half.

With the win, the Jugglers improved 1-1 and are set to take on Whitesboro at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

West Canada Valley boys edge VVS

Senior Brayden Shepardson got off to a fast start, scoring 32 points in West Canada Valley’s season-opening 61-52 win over Vernon-Verona-Sherrill.

Junior guard Camerahn Ludwig added 15 points for WCV in the non-league win part of the Richfield Springs Tip-off Tournament.

Senior guard/forward Eliijah Donegan led VVS with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Ryan Drummond added nine points on 3 3-pointers. He also had 3 rebounds.

On Saturday, VVS scored a 77-32 win over host Richfield Springs.

Donegan had his second double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds. He also had four assists for VVS, which lead 40-13 at halftime.

Junior forward Atticus Roque also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

VVS (1-1) is next scheduled to play at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Cazenovia at Sherburne-Earlville’s Tip-Off Tournament.

Sauquoit Valley moves to 2-0

Sauquoit Valley outscored West Canada Valley 12-5 in the fourth quarter to earn a 57-52 win Saturday as part of the Richfield Springs Tip-off Tournament.

Four players scored in double figures for VVS with junior guard Donovan Nelson totaling 11 points and 11 assists. He also had five rebounds.

Junior guard Andrew Price knocked down five 3s for 15 points and had six rebounds. Junior forward/center James Henck added 12 points and eight rebounds while classmate guard Zach Latino chipped in 13 points.

Ludwig led all scorers with 17 points while adding seven rebounds and Shepardson had 16 for WCV, which trailed 34-29 at the half.

Sauquoit is set to take on visiting Hamilton in a non conference game at 7 p.m. today.

West Canada Valley (1-1) set for a non-league match-up against Cooperstown at 7 p.m. today.